TEL International is actively engaging with Jameyana Primary School (formerly Mpisi Primary School) to improve the physical and mental well-being of its students. The project, which focuses on nutrition, aims to support the growth and development of schoolchildren through supplemental nutrition and a community vegetable garden.

Early childhood is a critical period for both physical and cognitive development, laying the foundation for future growth. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, one in three children in South Africa faced malnutrition, and that number has only increased in the aftermath of the pandemic. This project initially targets 160 children under the age of six and will eventually expand to include 300 children between the ages of seven and ten.

A key component of this initiative is the Nkosi supplementary bar, which contains essential macronutrients necessary for the development of young children. The bars will be provided monthly to Jameyana Primary School. Before the program begins, the students will be weighed to establish a baseline, allowing for the evaluation of the program’s effectiveness over time.

In addition to the Nkosi Bars, a community vegetable garden will be established at the school. This garden will provide fresh, nutritious meals to the students, enhancing the overall impact of the project and ensuring a well-rounded approach to improving their health. By offering healthy meals at school, the project will address both immediate hunger and long-term nutrition needs.

This combined effort of the Nkosi Bars and the community vegetable garden will significantly contribute to the physical and mental development of the children involved. As much of the critical development occurs during these early years, the success of this project has the potential to set these children on a path of better health, learning, and future opportunities.

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